Michael Swayze's Community Resources

Category: Uncategorized

  • A Road Less Traveled

    A long time ago I learned in geometry the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. A similar rule when taking a car trip is to take the Interstate if you want to get to your destination fast. Sometimes it is more fun to take the road less traveled. A few months ago while visiting our sons in Maryland and Virginia we decided not to take I-95 but instead to go west via I-78 and make a left at Harrisburg and take Route 15 south.

    Near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania we came upon a number of what seemed to be handmade road signs advertising handmade pottery and fresh produce. On the return trip back to New Jersey we decided to take this turnoff. We followed the signs, turning onto Route 134 in Gettysburg. To be more precise we took a left onto Taneytown Road. A mile or so down the road we came to our destination, a local pottery shop and community market known as The Lion Potter. The shop is owned by David and Junko Young, an incredible couple.

    If you spend enough time at The Lion Potter you will know this is a special place. I can’t explain the place as well as a local news article did so I’ll suggest you read the piece found in the local Emmitsburg News-Journal. We bought a small pitcher and unpasteurized goat’s milk. We will be visiting their shop at 855 Taneytown Road, Gettysburg, PA. on a future trip.

    We got a postcard from David and Junko the other day. They are having their 7th annual spring cleaning sale on Saturday and Sunday, May 21 & 22, 2011. Their inventory of plates, bowls, mugs, vases, etc. will be priced at 50% off. Go visit them. Take the turnoff for a road less traveled.

  • Tax Benefit For Commuters Extended

    The following article appears in NJ Transit’s FYI Customer Update, February 2011:

    Congress has continued the $230 monthly pre-tax commuter transit benefit allowance through Dec. 31, 2011.

    Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the pre-tax payroll deduction limit for transit was increased to $230 per month on March 1, 2009, while maintaining the existing $230 limit for parking expenses.

    Through commuter tax benefits, employees save on income taxes when they use pre-tax salary toward their mass transit commute and/or qualifying parking benefit. Employers also save on payroll taxes for each participating employee by lowering payroll costs. To find out how you can participate, visit www.njtransit.com/taxbenefits.

    The extension of the commuter tax benefit was part of the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010 passed by Congress on December 16, 2010.

  • Ecoman and The Skeptic

    In these trying environmental times I want to pass along a favorite radio, correction Internet radio show of mine. It’s called Ecoman and the Skeptic and it airs weekly on the Green Talk Radio Network. There are several ways to listen to the show. Perhaps the easiest, at least for me, is to listen to them on my iPod while commuting to and from work.

    Ecoman and the Skeptic are two professors from Philadelphia University’s Engineering and Design Institute. They are: Rob Fleming, an architect (Ecoman) and Chris Pastore, an engineer (Skeptic). Their show is informative, funny, and covers a wide range of topics dealing with sustainability.

    You can check it out by visiting www.philau.edu/ecomanandtheskeptic . Or you could visit the iTunes Store and download any of their three dozen shows via podcast. Another method is to go to The Voice America’s Green Talk Radio Network website and listen to Ecoman and The Skeptic live. Their show usually airs from September through April during the school year. I’m behind in my listening but I’m catching up by way of the podcasts.

    If you want to learn more about what sustainability is all about this is a show to turn to. Me, I’m lucky I have a daughter and son-in-law who are in the field. BTW, if anyone is thinking about getting a degree in sustainable design go visit Sustainable Design blog belonging to Philadelphia University.